VideoGame_Discussion

Feeb wrote:

Yeah, everyone loves to rag on it. And rightfully so for most of it. But I still love it. Its just so different from the others. And I like how the world actually changes between NG cycles. There are also so many more weapon choices. And more magics.

The “hub” kinda feels special to me for some reason. The whole game feels like a DS theme park. It’s just fun and awful all in one. Lots of cool bosses.

Archer wrote:

I'm only like ... 30 minutes into it? haha, I spent over 3 hours creating a character (after starting over multiple times). I still think I'm gonna play it, just in a weird debate mode about what to invest into next.

There's just something about the Soulsborne itch, it always shows up it seems.

This is fun though. When I took apart my Alienware laptop recently to re-apply thermal grease (had some overheating issues), I broke my internal WiFi antennas. I didn't care, I'm on ethernet, and I had a spare USB WiFi adapter.

Yet, when trying to play DS2 just now, both the PS5 and Xbox Elite controllers ... keep randomly disconnecting. Mother f'er, I think the WiFi and Bluetooth connection is shared.

Christ, I do not want to take this thing apart again. To replace this, requires pulling the screen off too.

I've been building my own gaming PC's for ... 20 years. This was the first time I went laptop, because I was lazy, and more and more regretting it.

Ugh.

You could probably buy a usb bluetooth/wifi adapter to use instead of the built-in(broken) one.

I've been playing Dark Souls Remastered on Switch. It's good and nice to have it portable and easy to pause instantly.

bill wrote:

Yep, just ordered a BT 5.3 adapter ... sucks to have another stupid dongle, but ... yeti hands don't play well inside a laptop

Actually, crap, looks like there are combo WiFi/BT dongles, hrmmmm

@Kommie I've beaten Elden Ring, ftr. Do I need to prove it?

No. Added a double quitter to the list.

Yep, DS2 is a dick. So many unnecessary enemy placements, hiding everywhere!

Yup, it's a gank fest of epic proportions. You think you just killed all the enemies? Think again, they'll jump from above you or below you just to gank you and up the artifical difficulty up!

I mean, I'm having a blast ... 10 hours in, and I'm amazed at how much of this I remember. Thought I forgot it all, but this happens with any game I revisit.

I don’t remember ever thinking there were too many mobs- the point is to farm them anyway? A few runs of each area and you should remember where they are unless you’re just daft.

DS2 let you repair rings of sacrifice, right? That made DS2 a relaxing romp.

It has more builds and weapons. And that power stance thing too. It’s EZ mode DS.

Found out today about a game that instantly made me think of Dark Souls: Mortal Shell.

Had a cool feature implemented, where when you die, instead of going back, part of you hangs around and you move slower, but you have one more chance to defeat the enemy you were facing when you died, and if you defeat it, you can simply continue on as you were.

What I saw of the game had a lot of souls-like vibes.

Mortal Shell, to me is one of the best Souls like games out there.

It's short and does a lot of cool stuff without being too long.

I couldn't get into it. It was too slow. Movement was sluggish and the combat was super clunky and slow. I think I gave up after 30 minutes.

Same. Couldn’t get into Mortal Shell for the life of me. Felt way too clunky. Reminded me of the original Lords of the Fallen and I turned it off a sold it in about a week.

Archer wrote:

Same. I wanted to try it again, but haven't...

Mortal Shell is slow, definitely at least a 2 hour learning curve or so, but the game is pretty short if you can get over some issues.

DS2 ... the damn chariot boss, what a crap show. If you die, the run back is a giant pain in the dick because as you're zoning in, the aggro'd mobs beat you to death. Forgot about this guy.

Just keep trying. The mobs in DS2 eventually stop respawning.

I may have to start giving games I initially don't like another shot at later dates more often. Because as I posted a few weeks ago I gave Remnant from the ashes another shot. I completed it, and enjoyed it. It has issues, but I had fun with it. And this honestly isn't the first game I've tried to go back to later and liked after initially hating it. I liked this one so much I actually bought Remnant 2 with some xbox credit I had. And I really enjoyed that, far more than the first one. They added classes, called archetypes. That have skills. And you eventually unlock the ability to use two at once. Creating a hybrid and using skills from each one. They really improved the melee in it as well. Melee in the first was horrific. The RNG was tonned way down. And they got rid of the "every boss spawns a billion adds". Most of them still spawn adds, but they are only a couple at time. And that is a good thing. As they drop ammo. However, one world does have the enemy spawn behind you b.s. But only one of them, and its only on the first open over-world map segment. The enemies are flying robots, and they are annoying. But easy one shot kills that don't do any real damage to you. So its not as bad. And there is a really cool world that is 100% Yharnam, with a twist. I enjoyed that world so much I ran it on adventure mode a whole bunch.

DS2 ... is vastly easier than I remember it being. Reality is, none are truly 'hard' (I'd say I had the hardest time with Sekiro), but I had it in my head that DS2 was the hardest of the DS series. I just remember putting it down upon release as I got stuck in a stupid water area with casters pegging me from a mile away, that I just couldn't pass. Came back like 6 months later, and made it right past. No clue what that was all about.

Yeah, there's a lot of cheap crap, but once you know the areas, not overly difficult. The bosses are a joke (so far). 18 hours in, at Earthen Peak (with I think everyone done up to this point, and even some stuff after), but overall it's generally been a breeze. Still a damn good time though, really excited to see the DLC. No idea where/when it is or how to get there. Figure at some point I may look that up.

Level 95, went Hexer this time as my last few Souls games I've been melee. Yet, even though my stats are more focused on spell casting, i'm finding that melee'ing mobs and bosses, is easier. Just a few minutes ago, the last boss (lame ass worm thing?) + a recent dark knight (drops twinkling), I died casting ... yet, smacked with my lame fireword, never got hit. Debating a respec and going heavy str, but fun having a bit of both worlds. I have to assume I'm gonna need a new melee weapon soon as I'm still rocking a Flame Longsword (+5 atm).

I definitely want to go back and play DS1, as I never did the remaster - no clue what if anything is different? Just graphics?

Wonder when/if we'll get Dark Souls 4.

Dark Souls 2 is a step up in everything except world and story imo- if there is any clarity to the lore of DS it went out the window with 2. Rose colored glasses - folks are so defensive of Demons and DS 1 they just gotta ignore this.

I think DS1 remaster is mostly about better resolution/framerate and porting to Switch/ps4. I guess it has some minor changes (much of it online stuff). It's definitely not as pretty as the Demon's Souls remake was.

I had played the Demon's Souls remake as a magic-user/Intelligence. I'm playing DS1 remaster as a Cleric/Faith. The mage still had to use weapons often, but it has some powerful magic attacks. My Cleric is mostly melee with some ability to use miracles (some ranged lightning and a close AOE).

I'd say playing mage is harder because you're more of a glass canon, powerful ranged attacks but killed easily up-close. My cleric can facetank most stuff and doesn't die so easily.

MrBean wrote:

They've been saying for a while they don't want to make another souls game anytime soon. They don't want to just be the souls dev. They want to do other projects. So if there ever was a dark souls 4, it probably wont be for a long time. They are about to release a new Armored Core game, people seem to be hyped about that. I've never been a fan of those games.

I assume Elden Ring 2 is much more likely. Dark Souls is so last week.


p.s.

I just beat 4 kings on the first try, lol. I recall being so frustrated trying to kill them in the past.

After beating Kirby Return to Dreamland Deluxe on Switch with my Little, 2D Kirby games are a PG version of Elden Ring with all the Mini and Major Boss fights. The levels simple then Boss fights of varying difficulty. Most of the time Multiple per stage.

Kirby kinda a Nintendo Badass.

Ahhhh, made it back to the zone that made me bail last time on DS2 -- Shrine of Amana. Infinitely easier this time ... because I have a damn bow, and I stocked up on poison arrows.

Overall, having a blast, way easier this time. Leveling is happening way too fast. Level 145 after 33 hours.

Can't wait to get to the DLC's. Anyone recommend doing them sooner? I was gonna wait until right before end game to do them.

I've only beat the base DS2 once. I'm trying Scholar now but I'm really not enjoying it. Never really enjoyed Forest of Fallen Giants in any try with this game.

Two people playing DS2 DLC for the first time?

image

Yah, it's rare I do DLC's in most games as once I'm done with them, always a challenge to go back. Best way to do it though, is years later, to replay the game vs. only doing the dlc. Yet ... I still haven't done Forbidden West DLC and I don't foresee replying that in full, I'll just do the DLC there at some point.

I really had a blast revisiting DS3, and and now 2. DS1 is definitey on the horizon, followed by Bloodbourne (didn't do DLC on either).

Sekiro didn't have DLC right?

Hopefully Elden Ring will be soon!

DS2 Scholar was my first Souls game. I have fond memories of it minus the last boss fight which was easily cheesed. Bloodborne was my first SoulsBorne game though that got me into the series and it’ll still be my all time favorite. Gothic atmospheric horror at its finest. Ya just never forget your first.

my favorite content of all games in souls series including BB is the DLC. Some of it is… challenging.

Feeb wrote:

I've heard this ... I loaded up my original BB save, and didn't recognize like any of it. It's insane how that happens. Yet as soon as I start playing old games, everything comes back. I've remembered damn near most of DS2, which was a decade ago. Yet now I'm in areas that I'm not properly remembering.

Anyway, yeah, I think BB may be next for the replay games. I've wanted to play the DLC for quite some time. Shame that it's still not on PC.

The Bloodborne DLC was incredibly challenging. Especially the one boss by the beach. I forget the name but I think it would be a lot more manageable with a remaster because playing the game now without a steady framerate is rough. That’s the main reason for me and my friend dying so much when we played the DLC coop. Those damn inconsistent eye frames.

Orphan of Kos is rough.